It’s almost hard to imagine that not too long ago eating out as a vegan or vegetarian in Dublin equated to ordering a ‘veggie-side-as-main-course’ or begging your skeptical friends to join you at one of the few dedicated vegetarian restaurants in the city.
Ease of eating for vegetarians has come hand in hand with a jump in the number these vegetable-centric eateries but also the influx of veggie-friendly ethnic restaurants and the trend for chefs across the board to make vegetables just as delicious as their meaty main course counterparts.
So whether you’re a vegan, vegetarian, or just aspire to eat less meat (which makes you a reducetarian FYI) here’s a list of vegetarian and vegan restaurants in Dublin city that will keep every type of hungry herbivore happy.
When you have a city centre eatery like Glas at your disposal, you have no excuse not to give a meat-free Monday, or any other day, a go. Offering fine dining fit for kale lovers but just as enjoyable for confirmed carnivores, Glas challenges the meat and two veg paradigm with clever and innovative dishes including juicy king oyster mushrooms and carrot “pastrami”. Don’t forget to order a side of courgette fries for greedily dunking in Nigella seed mayo.
Gourmet Food Parlour are known for their delicious dining options for both vegetarians and meat-eaters alike! Classic, hearty dishes are always available at all of their locations, but this January, they’ve taken things one step further. Often adding new, ever-changing specials, this month they have been inspired by Veganuary, adding several new vegan dishes to their menu! Expect dishes like a bhaji burger, a wild mushroom melt, and the green goodies pasta. A plethora of dishes are available for the curious, with the veggies taking centre-stage. Vegan desserts are up for grabs too, because whether you’re vegan or not, you’ve always got to finish off with something sweet!
What once began as a pop-up in Stoneybatter in 2019 is now one of Dublin’s resident Vegan spots for delicious burgers. Boasting a wide range of vegan burger patties, you’re spoilt for choice between Beyond Meat, beetroot & chickpea, chicky fillets and more. They also have vegan wings, toasties, milkshakes, and everything in between. You’ll struggle to choose just one thing, so this is certainly the spot to go back to time and time again.
From the team that brought you Blazing Salads, FLIP is a vegan burger joint in George’s Street Arcade. There’s nothing basic about these burgers – the veggies are allowed to shine! Arguments break out over the preferred base of a veggie burger, but fret not – FLIP has them all, so you can pick your favourite. Choose from the Flipper (black bean & quinoa), the Lifter (millet & sweet potato), the Improver (lentil & brown rice), or the Popper (sweet corn & feta fritter). A simple but impressive menu, perfect for grabbing on the go for a quick and healthy lunch! Sweeten the deal with some vegan soft serve or a vegan milkshake and thank us later.
If you want a spot with the best atmosphere and some vegan deliciousness, look no further than The Saucy Cow. Located in Temple Bar, you’re never far from their delectable vegan burgers, toasties and wings. If loaded fries are more your jam, they’ve got you covered with with an array of incredible options. The definition of indulgence, their mouthwatering dishes certainly make Veganuary a little easier.
One might think that vegan food is all about salads with no flavour, but this list has proven otherwise, and Nomo Ramen proves that you can have flavourful, comforting ramen that’s 100% vegan. With not one, but two vegan broth options, veggies are spoiled for choice at this cosy spot on Charlotte’s Way. If that’s not enough, their Mushroom Karaage is the perfect accompaniment to the ramen – salty, crispy, delicious.
Serving authentic Indian and Pakistani food in four fabulous locations, Daata have a dedicated vegetarian section on their menu. Unique, cosy interiors set the mood for what is bound to be an amazing meal, with dishes like a heart Tadka Dhaal or a fan favourite – Saag Paneer. They’ve also got a dish dedicated to their hometown of Lyallpuri (now Faisalabad), perfect for paneer lovers. Head here for a unique and delectable brunch too, with Halwa Puris available and a warming cup of chai in this cold winter weather. Impressive cocktails are also up for grabs – we can certainly guarantee an outing at Daata is one that will warrant several more visits!
Authentic Italian restaurant NoLIta is best known for their hand-crafted cocktails and saxophone entertainment. They have revamped their entire vegan menu offering to celebrate Veganuary, with dishes that will take you from brunch through to the late night. Fret not, you won’t be missing out on your favourite Italian classics – NoLIta are offering vegan pasta and pizza, so you can still indulge this month! Of course, vegan desserts are available for those with a sweet tooth, and plenty of cocktails to pair with your tasty meal.
Located in the heart of the city centre, on Wicklow Street, since 1986, no list of vegetarian restaurants in Dublin would be complete without Dublin’s original veggie mecca, Cornucopia. A cornucopia is a mythical horn that symbolises food and abundance and the eatery has always stayed true to its name serving hearty portions of home cooked salads and hot dishes, and a range of breads, cakes and desserts. There’s always raw/living options on the menu too.
Set up by sisters Pamela and Lorraine Fitzmaurice, this compact day time only deli has been serving wholesome vegetarian and vegan food since 2000, moving now to FLIP in George’s Street Arcade. Pick a box size that suits your appetite and fill as you fancy from the salad bar and hot food counter. At the till there’s spelt base pizza slices, filo pastry turnovers and their signature veggie burgers as well as a vegan, and often gluten free, cakes and bakes, all homemade. Fridges are packed with soups, curries and stews that you can take home for dinner too. On sunny days, take yours to the steps of Powerscourt Townhouse and watch the world go by.
Shaku Maku, which translates to ‘What’s the Story’ or ‘Cad é an scéal’ from Arabic, is a wonderful spot for all things Middle Eastern soul food. This cuisine has some of the best vegetarian and vegan mezze around, and although Shaku Maku is known for their Josper Grilled meats, they have an abundance of vegetarian and vegan options to choose from. Opt for the classic Shakshouka, the Vegetarian Moussakka or their Lentils Mujadara, to name a few. They also have a delicious Fattoush salad drizzled with tangy pomegranate molasses, and of course, the classic hummus. Delicious.
Umi Falafel’s formula of serving great value, fresh falafel, Middle Eastern mezze and salad dishes, in a modern, informal cafe setting has proved so popular that they claim that they roll enough falafel each week that if laid side by side they would stretch from their Dame Street cafe all the way to their suburban store in Rathmines. Owners say their secret is making the falafel to order and sticking to family recipes for salads, sauces and pickles. The relaxing environment makes it a perfect place to catch up with friends over a shared mezze, lingering a little longer with some loose leaf mint teas to complete the authentic Middle Eastern experience.
It’s no secret that Indian food is one of the best cuisines for vegetarians and vegans. Since a large chunk of the Indian population is vegetarian, you’re spoilt for choice with an abundance of dishes. Doolally’s menu was originally created in collaboration with Alfred Prasad, a renowned Indian chef who was awarded a Michelin star at the age of twenty-nine. Doolally has an array of curries, chaats, biryanis and kebabs to choose from, and we can guarantee that it’s delicious. Onion Bhaji’s and Bhindi Masala anyone?
Serving authentic Thai and Vietnamese food, Saba on both Clarendon Street and Lower Baggot Street has plenty on offer to spice up a vegetarian’s life, from curries and salads, to noodles and stir fries. If you’re strictly vegetarian just be sure to ask for no fish sauce. Serving the kind of food that tastes too good to be healthy, Saba even partnered up with nutritionist Erika Doolan to create an innovative menu which offers symbols that suggest the calorie count, and highlights coeliac options and paleo dishes, which are all dairy, wheat, soya, and legume free. The best bit? Regardless of what you order, or how fussy you are, the friendly team at Saba will always go the extra mile to make sure you have a memorable dining experience. After all, Saba in Thai does mean ‘happy meeting place’.
This hipster haven is so cool that there’s almost always a queue. The menu is spiked with the results of their fermentation experimentation, which also informs a quirky collection of drinks, and there’s plenty on offer for vegetarians and vegans. Early risers are treated to their signature Fumbally Eggs, scrambled with Gubbeen cheese, garlic and tomatoes served on toasted brioche, and ‘Self Service’ porridge that comes with a selection of toppings and an invitation to come again if you please. For lunch you’ll be tempted by their falafel, an ever changing array of flavoursome salads and there’s always a daily veggie special. They’re open for dinner on Wednesdays too.
Sprout & Co Kitchens have really taken root in Dublin since first opening on Dawson Street in 2015, branching out to open multiple standalone stores across the city. With their genuine commitment to seasonal and local produce, fresh and flavoursome food, sleek branding and even slicker service, it’s little wonder Sprout has seduced so many, vegans and non vegans alike. Plant based eaters have plenty of choice for breakfast with the likes of avo on toast, smoothies and chia pudding. For lunch their falafel is a favourite in the Super Guacabowle salad, and you can’t pass the dazzling display of NutShed‘s nutritious treats to finish. Didn’t get your Sprout fix during the day? The Dawson Street and Ballsbridge stores are open late for dinner on Thursdays and Fridays too.
One of the original vegetarian eateries in the city, Govindas harks back to the classic approach of catering to veggies; serving deli-style huge portions of colourful food in a casual setting that lifts the spirit and satisfies the hunger. Operating from two outlets in the city centre, Middle Abbey Street and Aungier Street, the menu has a strong Indian influence but includes a diverse mix of European foods too. All food is made in house and often with fruit, vegetables and nuts from their farm in Fermanagh, where they have polytunnels, 70 fruit trees and 15 nut trees.
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Now open seven days a week, Two Pups cafe is part of the 74 Francis Street Collective located in Dublin’s antiques quarter. Along with great coffee, they have a small but considered food menu that aside from option to add ham to their Tasty Toastie is entirely vegetarian. Alongside all day breakfast-style dishes like sourdough toast topped with jazzed up eggs or avocado, there’s a ‘Daily Dahl’ and a veggie salad or noodle bowl. Plant food lovers are by nature animal lovers too, so will be happy to hear Two Pups is dog friendly.
With locations on Bachelor’s Walk, Tara Street, Howth, Malahide and now Clontarf, rapidly expanding Póg has proven that it pays to offer a tempting vegan line up in addition to conventional crowd-pleasing dishes. Their vegan afternoon tea is a very safe bet for a delicious day out, skipping dull ham sandwiches in favour of vegan jambons, For a brunch treat, you will never go wrong with a fat stack of vegan pancakes with all the toppings or their Avo Vegano toast with plenty of pink pickled red onions and garlic portobello mushrooms.
While most would associate Japanese cuisine with the likes of salmon sushi rolls and tuna sashimi, vegans and vegetarians will have plenty of options at any one of Yamamori’s city centre locations. Try hot dishes like roast vegetable curry, tofu steak and vegetable ramen at Yamamori Noodles on South Great George’s Street, vegetable gyoza and agedashi tofu at Yamamori Izakaya across the road, or sushi nigiri and norimaki skillfully prepared with vegetables at Yamaori Sushi on Ormond Quay. At all three venues there’s a generous daily veggie bento box that will satisfy any Japanese food lover’s appetite.
When chef Dylan McGrath opened Rustic Stone in 2011 many people were skeptical of the forward thinking, nutritionally-aware menu that showcased raw food and promoted cooking on the stone. But the restaurant on South Great George’s Street proved it was ahead of the health conscious curve and still to this day is innovative in its offering. Vegans and vegetarians alike are catered for as comprehensively as meat-eaters, with tempting plant-based creations from robata-grilled aubergine to papaya salad and tofu baos.
A popular dining destination since opening on Capel Street in 2012, Brother Hubbard’s reputation for feel-good food that doesn’t compromise on flavour saw them open Sister Sadie in 2014, now rebranded as Brother Hubbard South, and more recently Brother Hubbard Ranelagh. All with their signature Middle Eastern twist, for lunch Brother Hubbard offers vegans open hummus sandwiches, smashed avo and cannellini beans on toasted sourdough, and their daily soups and salads are often vegan too. Vegetarians have their pick of brunch dishes like turkish eggs menemen and beans baked in a rich tomato sauce, served with a fried egg, feta and olive yogurt. Open seven days a week for breakfast, brunch and lunch, Brother Hubbard North also serves dinner from Tuesday to Saturday, for which the menu is over 50% vegan.
Last but absolutely not least, Nutbutter was the home of pulled jackfruit, cashew cream and sashimi watermelon long before any of these terms made sense to the average diner. Its long anticipated reopening in a shiny, bigger premises in Grand Canal Dock in late 2020 after a hiatus was undeniably a source of joy for Dublin’s vegans and veggies. Kaleidoscopic veggie packed bowls, tacos piled high with plant-based chorizo and portobello asada…this is one place where over-ordering is absolutely necessary to avoid food envy of your fellow diners.
Big Fan is an dining ideal spot if your group includes a mix of different dietary leanings, although I would caution that the Wagyu beef and Andarl Farm pork creations may be difficult to resist if you’re only veggie curious…For a Chinese vegan banquet, pile your plate high with aubergine and Beyond Meat stuffed baos that would tempt the most ardent carnivore and delicate woodear mushroom wontons in shiitake broth, served alongside divine sides like corn ribs and lucky crackers with yuzu tofu cream.
While many a veggie has sighed at predictable pasta plates as the solitary available option on a menu, Sprezzatura is *the* place for meat-free, handmade pasta dishes that aren’t overpriced token afterthoughts. Bowls of deliciousness like mafaldine, Cashel Blue and caramelised onions or classic Cacio e Pepe will call the name of every pasta lover and their arancini will seal the deal. Get your fix in Rathmines or Camden Market.
A pilgrimage to Drumcondra is a must for lovers of Mediterranean food and a feast from the east awaits at Shouk. Far from standard fare, Shouk offers an array of incidentally vegetarian specialities such as everyone’s favourite falafel done right, as well as deliciously vibrant vegan creations like whole roasted cauliflower or aubergine, with lashings of tahini, zhug and pomegranate. Here you can dabble in a spread of showstopper dishes for meat-eaters and veggies alike, and the plant-based plates will outshine the shawarma for many.
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